WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

For many Filipinos, home is not a place.  Home is family.  For the season 3 Coke Studio episode that focuses on family feels, the artists featured feel a strong and particular resonance for the idea of family.  

Sarah Geronimo

Sarah Geronimo has often been praised for her love and devotion to her family.  “I really love my family and all the sacrifices they have made for me. Whatever happens in life, wherever my career takes me, God gave me a gift that grounds me and keeps me humble, so that I know who I am,” she declares.  She also adds that being invited to be part of Coke Studio Season 3 is like being invited to a family reunion of sorts.  “When I used to see the Coke Studio billboard, when I would get stuck in traffic, I found it so cool, and I really thought to myself, ‘Wow, I wish that I could be a part of that.’"

This Band

This Band are Andrea Manzano (vocals), Euwie Von Loria (guitar), Miccael Galvan (bass), John Kenneth Macaranas (drums), Melvin Carson (keyboard) and Reymart Gubat (lead guitar).  They consider themselves as a family, since they all grew up near each other.  They started their career jamming in the food parks around their neighborhood. They also consider Sarah part of their extended showbiz family because of their management group.  Euwie says, “But at first, we couldn’t believe that this early in our career, we could be working with her. It’s as if our career will be fast-tracked, things are going beyond what we imagined.”  

Sarah Geronimo

Andrea adds, “And we’re so happy that we get to remake her song, because her music is really part of the soundtrack of our lives."

This Band

And just like in a real family, Sarah feels like an older sister, and she can pass on some wisdom to her young colleagues.  Sarah reminisces,  “When I was starting out, what was important, yung maging plakado. But now, the young ones, they’re so free.  And that’s great because what really matters with any performance, is that you put your heart into it.  So I would just remind them to always put your all into a performance.”  

Watch how Sarah Geronimo and This Band collaborate for Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them this coming October 26, at 10:00 a.m. on ABS-CBN or online at www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH .

ADULTING #FEELS ON COKE STUDIO SEASON 3

AL James & Lola Amour

Rapper Al James and indie band Lola Amour felt an instant rapport when they met to discuss their Coke Studio Season 3 collaboration.  

“Match yung energy namin!  They’re all so young so you feel that youthful vibe from them,” Al James said of their first meeting.

AL James

On Lola Amour’s part, lead singer Pio Dumayas has this to say on working with a hip-hop artist, “We really believe that there is strength in numbers and so adding one more genre to the music can only be good.  For us, we were just thinking of what could make a great song.”

Lola Amour is composed of eight musicians, seven of whom were part of a marching band in De La Salle Zobel and the youngest member is from the Philippine High School of the Arts.  Joining Pio are backing vocalist and keyboardist Martin Kim, backing vocalist and bassist Raymond King, guitarist Mico Fernandez, guitarist Zoe Gonzales, trumpeter Angelo Messina, saxophonist Joxx Perez and drummer Renzo Santos.  

Lola Amour

Raymond speaks for the band when he says, “Music is what keeps us sane…especially at this stage when we’re starting to face responsibilities…adulting na kami!”

And Al echoes this sentiment.  “Early on, from childhood, music started as an escape from reality until it became a kind of therapy, especially ngayon sa life and career ko…”

Pio puts it this way—"Music is what helps us to see, to see each other and who we really are.” And who they are is a unique combination of verve, spunk and swag, all rising to the challenge of adulting under the spotlight.

Watch Al James and Lola Amour as they collaborate on Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them on October 19, Saturday, at 10 a.m. on ABS-CBN or on https://www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH.

UDD X JUST HUSH: COOL AND COLLECTED

UDD

There are musical acts that take the world by storm, there are some that prefer a more slow and steady approach, and then there are those who just play by their own rules. UDD and R&B/hip-hop artist Just Hush fall under the third—both being more comfortable flying under the radar. In effect, they keep up an effortlessly cool reputation, something easily admired by their superfans—those who love the craft of music, rather than just the fame.

JUST HUSH

UDD, composed of Armi Millare on keyboards and vocals, Carlos Tañada on guitars and synth, Ean Mayor on drums and electronics, and Paul Yap on bass and synth, never fail to charm the hearts of listeners with their eloquent lyrics and unique beats. In the next episode of Coke Studio Season 3, they are paired with up-and-coming artist Just Hush—a reveal that the band tells us was full of surprises.  “When I heard how he mixed English and Filipino on his tracks, I was surprised with how he did it.  It comes off unexpected but natural.  Actually, I had always wanted to do a song in both languages, and I think the band will probably still do one,” says Ean.  

UDD

Armi admits, “What surprised me was how quiet he was! Because he does rap, we do have this image of what a rapper should be, and he is very different from that.”

On his end, Just Hush was definitely thrilled to be working with one of the greats in OPM, but he was keeping his cool.  He shares, “When we first met, I was really excited because I really love their songs. I know they’re a big deal but I didn’t want to show that I was their fanboy! But they were so humble, so down to earth, and that really surprised me.”

JUST HUSH

When it came to their creative process, Just Hush says, “They’re very open.  Even when they knew that I was their fan, I could feel that they didn’t look at me that way.  I wanted to mix funk with R&B, and they were also game.  In the end, it was very spontaneous.  Somehow, we were able to capture the emotion of the moment.”  

UDD all agree that their working dynamic flowed effortlessly.  “It was on the spot, we were able to work well together.”

Emotion was definitely an important factor, especially since the collab was about letting go of the things that inhibits you and the #feels involved when you have to Let Go and Grow. Surprises aside, the collaboration was a good mesh of the two artists, integrating common elements while still keeping cool, collected and true to their own sound.

Armi adds, “I really like R&B, it’s what I grew up on, and I do think that you can hear it a bit on our music.  When it comes to art, somehow you will come to, more or less, the same questions, the same why.  So even from different genres and generations, you will still find what feels right.”

Ean sums it up, “I like to think of us as perpetual students.  We went out of our comfort zone, but the funny thing is, I am sure that when fans hear the song, they will still say that it’s very us."

Watch UDD  and Just Hush as they collaborate on Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them on October 12, Saturday at 10a.m. on ABS-CBN or subscribe to Coke Studio’s Youtube page at www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH for the latest episodes.

Girls Gone #Woke

L-R: Bea Lorenzo, Janine Teñoso & Clara Benin

Janine Teñoso, Bea Lorenzo, and Clara Benin all started on the path to music as very young girls.  And though they’ve forged their names as solo artists, from the first time they met, there was an instant rapport that made their Coke Studio collaboration feel free-flowing and natural.  

Bea Lorenzo

Janine says, “Literally, I was just listening to their songs, and then a few days after, we were meeting together.  It felt as if we were sisters right away, we just started sharing our ideas and talking and talking."

For their Coke Studio Season 3 episode, the girls tackled something the youth feel strongly about: the environment, and how to create even more awareness and action to save it. These days, people are getting more and more #woke and want to do their part to help, and Coke is taking action through their various green initiatives. With this musical collaboration, Coke champions two things they firmly believe in: an active stance on environmental issues and women empowerment.

Clara Benin

Knowing that their Coke Studio episode would focus on the single biggest issue of this generation, all three realized that the big environmental issue comes from the smaller task of deciphering one’s priorities.  They saw that the root of caring for the environment is self knowledge.  From self knowledge comes the realization that we are all connected to each other.

Janine understood that they were taking on a big task.  “We knew that the song had to be uplifting spiritually.”  

Janine Teñoso

In creating their all-girl anthem, Clara says a little spontaneity went a long way.  “You also have to surprise yourself.  That’s part of the process.  We want to write a song that will encourage people to be themselves.”  

At the end of the day, it’s all about being true to your heart. As Bea sums it up: “The essence of being woke is doing what you love.  You have to do something that really speaks to you.  And for our song, it was about finding that balance without being too preachy.”

Watch how Bea Lorenzo, Clara Benin and Janine Teñoso,  collaborate for Coke Studio Season 3. Catch them this coming October 5, at 10:00 a.m. on ABS-CBN or online at www.youtube.com/CokeStudioPH .